WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK: The Complete Four-Part Series

TUSCALOOSA, AL — We're beyond thankful for the support and encouragement shown over the last weeks and months as we rolled out our ambitious local true-crime series looking back on the brutal 1989 murder of Father Francis Craven.

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Following the conclusion of the series, with Part IV posted Sunday, several readers have requested that Patch organize the stories on a single landing page in chronological order for the sake of ease and accessibility.

Have any questions or feedback about the series? I'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out at ryan.phillips@patch.com. I also plan on adapting this series to a podcast format, so be on the lookout for that in the coming weeks and months.

WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK: Part I | The Murder Of Father Francis Craven

The first installment of this series sets the stage by introducing the victim, a Catholic priest from Guntersville, the crime scene and the investigators tasked with solving his murder on Jan. 7, 1989. Father Craven's body was found beaten and burned on a secluded road near Lake Tuscaloosa.

WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK | Part II: Secrets & Suspects

Part II of our series examines the first breaks and suspects in the case, while also contextualizing much of the public hysteria regarding high-profile murder cases. Numerous suspects are considered, but an arrest is made that flips the entire case on its head.

WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK | Part III: Revelations

Part III introduces several new players, namely David Thomas Leitner and Gregory Scott Little. It also provides extensive background to tell their stories and make sense of one of the strangest family dynamics you'll ever read about.

WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK | Part IV: Trials & Tribulations

The conclusion of our expansive series focuses on the courtroom battles that culminated in a guilty verdict. But was justice served and the right man convicted? We may never know but this series works to tell a complete story to shed new light on one of the most complex murder cases in Tuscaloosa County history.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com